Wrapping machine paper feed mechanism



0a, 27, 19.31. E. c. HEGG 1,829,515

WRAPPING MACHINE PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 27, 1931. E. c. HEGG WRAPPING MACHINE PAPER FEED MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 6. 1929 Imf Oct, 27, 1931. E. c. HEGG WRAPPING MACHINE PAPER FEED MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1929 Q k 1, N

Oct. 27, 1931. E. c. HEGG WRAPPING MACHINE PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ImfenTEr Zia mu zi Ze ggy E. c. HEGG 1,829,515

WRAPPING MACHINE PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed April 6. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 2?, 1933. E. c. HEGG WRAPPING MACHINE PAPER FEED MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 6. 1929 Iv lil 1 m M m? w a. v

- dfone of the grippers and adjacent parts of Paie'ntetl "Oct. 2?;1931

UNITED STATES) PATENT OFFICE EDWARD c. fines, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, Assrenon 'ro MOJONNIER BROS. 00., A r L CORPORATION or" ILLINOIS K WRAPPING MACHINE PAPER FEED MECHANISM Originalapplication filed May 10, 1927,Seria1 No. 190,359.

1929. Serial This invention relates to a machine for cutting a lab or block of material into sections or s ces and wrapping the same in paper suitable for sale to the retail trade, and although this machine is primarily designed for cutting ice-cream slabs or blocks in this manner and wrapping them preparatory to turning the same over to customers, it obviously can be used for slicing and wrapping other materials, preparatory to dispensing the same. v 1

It is the object of this invention to provide a machine capable of performing these functions which is compact in construction, efficient and economical in op eration and capable of handling a comparatively large amount of material peditiously.

The present application is a division of my prior application Serial, No. 190,359 filed May 10, 1927. The paper handling features are *claimed more particularly herein. i

In the accompanyin drawings Figure 1 is a side e evation of a cutting and wrapping machine embodying my invention ith parts of the enclosure broken away so as to show the internal mechanism.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same with parts broken away to show the internal mechanism.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same, on an enlarged scale,'showing parts broken away and in section for exposing the internal inechanismx Figure 4 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 3 but showing more particularly the mechanism for wrapping a sheet around the sections of material.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section, on

an enlarged scale, taken on line 5-5 Fig. 1 and showing more particularly the mechanism whereby the block or slab of material is cut into sections or slices. 1

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front-elevation the paper feeding mechanism on the left side of the machine. y Figure 7 is a top plan view of the same. Figure 8 is an edge view of the gripper and conveniently, and ex- Divided and. thissappllcation filed April 6, N0. 353,044.

adjacent part of the left hand paper feeding mechanism, shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 9 is an end view of one of the left hand paper grippers detached from its carrier.

Figure 10 is a vertical cross section taken on line 10- 10 Fig. 2.

Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are diagram- "matic views illustrating different positions of parts of the mechanism whereby a sheet of A paper or similar material-is wrapped around a section or slice of material.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary front elevation of the plunger and adjacent parts of the mechanism whereby a sheet of paper is wrapped around a section of the material.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section taken on line 17-17 Fig. 16.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the right hand portion of the wrapping mechanism and adjacent parts, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 19 is afront elevation of the closing trip arm on adjacent parts of the paper feed mechanism on the right hand side of the machine which controls the operation of feeding the paper, depending upon whether the block of material has been initially advancedto a predetermined position.

Figure 20 is an end view partly in section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the grippers of the right hand paper feed mechanism showing the same in itsopen position.

Figure 21 is a similar view showing the gripper in its closed position in which it grips the web of paper which is to be advanced to the wrapping position.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of a cake or slice of material which has been wrapped in the machine forming the subject of this invention.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of ,the drawings x The numeral 30 represents thefmain frame of the machine which may be of any suitable construction to support the various working parts of the machine. On the upper part of this frame and at the rear end thereof the same is provided with a horizontal table 31 upon which is adapted to-be supported a block or slab of material 32 such as a block of ice cream, preparatory to cutting the same step by step advances of the follower 33 actup into sections and wrapping the sections successfully in sheets of aper. The forward movement of this bloc of materialmay be effected step by step through the medium of a feed mechanism such as is disclosed in my prior parent application Serial No: 190,359, or the same may be fed by handf Since the subject matter claimed more particularly in the present case is the paper handling and immediately associated mechanism, it will not be necessary to a disclosure of that invention to show and describe herein the material feed mechanism of my parent appli cation. Consequently it may be assumed for the purposes of the present disclosure that the slab or block of material is fed by hand. In such case the slices 29 will be cut by proper ing againstthe rear of the block or slab 32. For an understanding of the automatic material feed mechanism, reference should be had to my said parent case.

The numeral 33 represents the follower which is arranged transversely above the feed table 31 and moved forwardly lengthwise 3 thereof in engagement with the rear end of the block of material for advancing the latter toward the cutting mechanism and also capable of being retracted into its rearmost position for engaging with a new block when the cutting of the preceding block has been completed or nearly completed.

The main driving shaft 42 ofthe machine is journaled horizontally and lengthwise in the lower part of the "main frame and is rotated so that it makes one turn for every complete cycle of operations of the machine. Although this driving shaft may be operatedi in any suitable manner and from any suitable source, it is preferable to drive the same from an electric motor 43 which is mounted on the lower rear part of the main frame. Motion may be transmitted from this motor to the main driving shaft 42 by the driving belt 44 passing around pulleys 45 and 46 which are secured to the shaft 47 of the motor and a counter'shaft ,48 arranged transversely below the main shaft 42, and a worm caring consisting of a worm pinion 49 secure to the countershaft 48 and meshing with the worm wheel 50 on the main driving shaft, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. For the purpose of startingand stopping the machine without interrupting the motion of the motor, a clutch 51 is preferably employed which is interposed between the main driving shaft 42 and the driven worm wheel 50 and which is operated by means of a shifting lever 52, as

' shown in Fig. 1..

As the block of material reaches the end of each step during its forward feeding movement the front end of this block projects front wallor stop which latter is separated from the front edge of the table 31 by an intervening space which forms a vertical-well 71. After the block of material has been thus advanced so that its front end projects beyond the front end of the feed table 31, this projecting'part of the block is operatedupon a cutter mechanism for severing a section or slice of material from the block. This cutter mechanism maybe variously organized but in its preferred form the same com-.

prises two cutter blades 72, 73, which are are ranged vertically and are adapted to move transversely toward and from each other across the path of the block of material so that in the closed position of these cutters thebpposing upright edges of the same practically meet at the center of the path of material,

while in the open position of the. blades the same are retracted laterally from opposite sides of this path so as to not obstruct the same and permit of. feeding the'block for-.

wardly. K

As best shown in Fig/5, the cutter 72 is mouhted on theupper arm 74 of an elbow lever which is pivoted on the main frame by a horizonta longitudinal, pivot and the cut.- ter 73 is secured to the upper arm '7 5 of a three-armed lever which is pivoted by a horizontal longitudinal pivot to the main frame. These levers are causedto move in unison so that their cutter blades approach the center of the path of the block and move away from the same at the same. time by a link 76 connecting the inwardly projecting lower arm 77 of the lever supporting the left hand blade 72 with -an inwardly projecting central arm 78 of the lever supporting the right hand blade 73, and 'a rotary cam 79 secured to the driving shaft 42 and engaging with the lower arm 80 of the lever supporting the righthand blade 73 as best shown in, Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

After a section or slice has been cut off from the front end of the block, the same is shifted to the mechanism which operates to wrap a sheet of paper, around thesame. This mechanism in the .preferred construction comprises an elevator 81 which is normally lowered in the well 71 with its upper side substantially flush with the top of the *feed table 31 so thatTthe block-of ice cream or other material when advanced, will project withits foremost portion over the upper side of the elevator 81, then the latter is raised so as to lift the foremost part of the block of materialwhich has been severed in the form of a slice or cake from the remain- .der of the block until this section is arranged timing with the movement of the section cutter and block feeder and this is preferably accomplished by mounting this elevator on the upper end of a lifting rod 82 which is suitably guided onthe main frame and engages its lower end with a lifting cam 83 which is mounted on the driving shaft 42 so as to be rotated thereby.

In Fig. '11 this elevator is shown in its lowermost position which it occupies while the block of material is being fed over the same, and in Fig. 12 this elevator is reprecream or similar material is usually sold in brick form. It is therefore'proposed in the present machine to again divide the sections which are'removed from the block of material into two smaller cakes or slices of equal size. To accomplish this without involving .the use of any additional movable parts, a

I two smaller cakes or slices of material which dividing blade 84is provided which is arranged in an upright and longitudinal position above the well 71 and mounted on the adjacent part of the main frame so that when the section of material removed from the main block is lifted, this section will be 'engaged with this dividing blade 84: and cut therebyinto two cakes or slices of equal dimensions by the time the section has been elevated into its highest position by the elevator.

In orderlto prevent the lower edge of this dividing blade from being injured or interfering with the operation of the elevator the central part of the'latter is provided with a longitudinal notch or'recess'85 as shown in Fig. 5, whichreceivesthe lower edge of the dividing blade 84 and enables. the latter to effect a cleancut or division between the have been elevated preparatory to wrapping them in paper.

After a section of material has been thus elevated and divided intotwo smaller cakes or slices, the same are acted upon by a wrapping mechanism which operates to wrap sheets of paper individually around the cakesor slices of material so as to cover-the rear flat sides of each cake or.slice,'leaving the side edges exposed;

' nism serving to. wrap one cake or slice of a upper and lower edges and the front and In the main, this wrapping mechanism is duplicated, the main parts of each mechapair and the following description, in the main, will therefore apply to thetwo sections of-this wrapping mechanism whereby After the slice of plunger 87 which is mounted on the front end of a plunger rod 88 which is guided in suitable guide-ways on the upper part of the main frame and which is reciprocated inproper synchronism withthe other parts of the machine by motion derived from the driving shaft 42. The particular 'mechanism whereby motion is transmitted from this driving shaft to the plunger rod 88 which is shown in the drawings, comprises an upright rock shaft 89 journaled in suitable hearings on the mainframe and provided at its lower end with a .rock arm 90 which en-- gages with a ca m 91 on the driving shaft 42, a spring 92 which holds the rock arm 90 yieldingly in engagement with the. cam, an upper rock arm 93 arranged on the upper end of the rock shaft 89 anda link 94 connecting the upper rock arm 93-with the plunger rod 88, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. While the section of material 1s being lifted by the ele vator 81 and cut into two smaller cakes or slices the plunger 87 is' retracted rearwardly out of the path of the slices to be wrapped as shown in Fig. 11, and after these slices have reached their uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 12, the plun er is moved forwardly and pushes the slice f material from the top of the elevator int the receiver 86, as shown in Fig. 13.

; Preparatory to moving each cake or slice of material from the upper end of the elevator into'the-receiver 86 a sheet of paper is fed downwardly so that the central part 95 of this sheet is arranged opposite the inlet of this receiver and the upper and lower ends 96 and '97 of this sheet are arranged above and below the inlet of the receiver, as shown in Fig. 11. As each cake or slice of material is pushed from the elevator into the receiver the flat front side of the slice'engages with the central part 95 of the sheet of paper and-as this cake or slice and the sheet of paper are pushed together forwardly into the receiver the upper and lower parts of the sheet immediately adjacent to the central part 95 thereof are bent horizontally rearwardly against the :upper and lower'edges of the cake of material by the rear edges 27, 28 of the top and bottom of the receiver 86, as shown at 98 and 99 in Figs. 13, .14, 15 and 18.

material has been thus pushed into thereceiver 86 and while the plunger 87 is still in engagement with the rear side of the slice, alower folding blade 100 first rises into engagement with the lower art of the sheet immediately adjacent to the ower rear corner of the slice and produces a short crimp in the same, and an upper folding blade 101 descends and engages with the'upper part of the sheet immediately adjacent to the upper rear corner of the slice and also produces a short crimp in this part of the sheet, as shown in Fig.14, thereby serving as retainers whereby the partly wrapped slice of material is held in the receiver 86 and the plunger 87 is permitted to withdraw rearwardly out of engagement from the rear side of the slice of material without liability of. pulling this slice backwardly with the plunger as would be liable to occur owing to the adhesion rwhich was produced between the same while the plunger moved the slices of. material forwardly into the receiver. After the plunger has been thus withdrawn rearwardly away from the rear side of the slice of material, the lower-folding blade 100 comletes its upward movement and bends'the ow er end 97 of-the sheet'in the form of a flap against the rear side of the slice of-material, as shown in Fig. and then the upper folding blade 101 also completesitsdownward movement and bends or folds the upper end 96 of the sheet downwardly against the rear side of the slice of material, as shown in Fig. 15. Thereafter the lower folding blade is,

' moved downwardly and the upper folding blade 101 is raised out of the path of the slice and the plunger as the next slice is moved from the elevator into the receiver.

Various means may be employed for obtaining this particular action of the folding blades, those shown in the drawings being suitable and comprising a lowercross-head 102 which carries the lower blade, an upper cross-head 103 which carries the upper folding blade, two upright tubular shifting rods 104 connected with opposite ends of' the lower cross-head 102 and guided in guideways 105 on the main frame, a lower cross head 106 connected to the lower ends of the tubular rods 104,upright guide rods 107 sliding in the tubular rods 104 and connected at their upper ends with the upper cross-head 103, a lower cross-head 108 connected with the lower ends of the guide rods 107, and two cams 109, 110 formed on a disk 111 which is secured to the driving shaft 42 and engaging with the lower cross-heads 108 and. 106 respectively, as shown in Fig. 4. As the cams 109 and 110 rotate with the driving shafts, the lower and upper folding blades are moved vertically towardand from each other across the rear or inlet end of the receiver 86 and produce the holding action on the sheet of paper forwrapping the same around a slice or cake of material in the manner which is described.

As each succeeding slice or piece of material is pushed forwardly from the elevator into the receiver and wrapped in a sheet of paper the same engages with the prevlously wrapped slice of material and pushes the latter forwardly upon a delivery table 112 on which the several wrapped slices of material accumulate in a row preparatory to being removed and dispensed to the trade or placed in a refrigerator or other container ready for distribution. The mechanism whereby sheets .of paper are supplied for wrapping the pairs of slices of material at the same time may be varied in construction, but as shown in the drawings the same are preferably. constructed as folows: u

The paper for the two slices of material is supplied from two rolls 113 which are arranged axially in line and side by side above the plunger 87 and its actuating'mechanism and mounted to turn loosely on arbors 114 which project from opposite sides of an up. right plate 115 which is carried by a bracket 116 secured to the adjacent part of the main frame. The web of paper is unwound from the upper side of eachof these rolls and passed forwardly and downwardly over a tension roller 117 and thence into position to be engaged by a paper feeding andcutting mechanism which operates to feed the web of each roll dowwardly intermittently and cuts the same into sheets'of a length suitable for wrapping around four surfaces or sides of a slice of material as hereinbefore described.

In order to prevent the rolls of paper 113 from turning toorapidly and possibly oven: throwing-when the paper web is pulled therefrom, a brake device is provided which prevents such excess. rotation and interference with the proper operation of the machine. This brake device preferably consists of a brake arm 118 which is pivoted at its lower end on the adjacent part of the main frame.

so as'to swing in a Vertical plane and bears at 1ts free upper end on the upper portion of one of the paper rolls, as shown in Fig. 1, and

thereby exerts sufficient pressure by gravity against this roll so as to operate. as a retarder to prevent too free unwinding of .the web from the roll.

In order to prevent the dew nward pull on the lower front end of the web,from tearing the paper-from the roll to the wrapping mechanism a yielding tension deviceis provided for supporting the tension roll 117,

the same during the operation of feeding which tension device preferabl consists of an upright tension rod 119 whlch is guided for vertical movement on the upper partof the main frame and is provided at its upper end with a horizontal pm 120. upon which the roll 117 is pivoted, a tension spring 121 surrounding the tension rpd 119 and bearing at its lower end against a shoulder 122 on the main frame, while its upper end bears against a pin 123 on the'tension rod, which pin also bears against a shoulder l24 on the upper part of the mainframe and thereby limits thehipward motion of the tension roller. JWVhen the'lower front end of the web of paper is pulled downwardly suddenly the tensionroller 117 yields as much as required toprevent tearing of the web but when the motion of the web has been started the tension roller is again elevated to its 1 normal position under the actio l of the tension spring. I w

Inasmuch as the two mechanisms whereby the web of paper is; simultaneously fed from the two rolls of paper to the two wrapping mechanisms are identical in construction so far as the main features are concerned, the

following description of one of .these mechanisms so far as it applies, may be taken as a description of both of 'thesemechanisms.

Arranged on transversely opposite sides of a passageway 125 between the rear end of the receiver 86 and the upper part of the elevator well 71 are two feed belts 126 which are preferably of the chain type and which cal operative stretches which are adapted to be moved outwardly adjacent to opposite sides of the passage 125, and vertical inoperative stretches which move' upwardly adjacent the opposite oiiter sides of themachine, each of these belts passing with ,its upper and lower turns around sup *orting sprocket wheels 127, 128 which arelpivotalliy 4 mounted on the ad acent parts of the main O f frame. These beltsare caused to move intermittently in unison by motion which is trans- J mittcd thereto from the main driving shaft frame and connected by a pair of bevel gears- 133, 134 with the upper end of the upright shaft 129, as shown in Figs. 2and 3. Each of the lower sprocket wheels 128 is mounted on the rear of a longitudinal shaftl35 which latter is operatively connected at its rearend B0 shaft 132 by means of a pair of miter gears 136,137, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. By means of this mechanism the two paper feed chains 126 are caused to move'downwardly with their operative inner stretches a disj a are so mounted that'the'y provide inner yerti with the adjacent part of the horizontah tance equal the length of the sheet or strip of paper which is adapted to be wound around the sl'mes' of material and then remain at rest until this strip has been severed and wrapped around the slice of material, which operations occur during one rotation of the main, driving shaft 42. The lower front end of each web is caused to move downwardly with the adjacent operative stretch of a, aper feed belt by means of a plurality of grippers which are mounted at intervals on the respective feed belt and. spaced at intervals thereon equal the length of, a'sheet or strip of paper which is to be wrapped around a slice of material. 'Each 89 of these'grippers projects laterally from this feed belt and is adapted to engage the outer edge of the respective web of paper while the gripper is near the upper endiof the operative stretch of the belt and remains attached thereto until the gripper reaches the lower end of the operative stretch and is then released so that the web of pa er is left in a position to be cut into properlength of sheet, and the gripper is free to return idly upward 90 with the inoperative stretch of the beltto the place of beginning the next feeding action; Each of these grippers in its preferred form, as best shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 20 and 21 comprises a carrier 138 which is mountedon one of the links of the feed belt 124 and is adapt'ed to slide at its opposite edges in a pair of vertical tracks "or guideways 139, 140 which are mounted on the main frameadjacent to one side of the passageway 125,-a relatively fixed front gripper jaw 1 41 projecting laterally fromthe carrier 138 and having agripping face on its rear side, a movable rear gripping jaw 142 arranged in rear-of each stationary jaw 141 1 and journaled in a bearing 143 of the carrier 138 and made cam shape in cross section so as t6 provide a high gripping face 144 and a low releasing face 145 on its periphery so that by turning this movable jaw about-its axis either its low face may be presented to the fixed gripping jaw 141 to release the paper which is arranged between these jaws as shown in Figs. 8 and 20, or to move the 1 high face of the movable jaw opposite the fixed jaw for the purpose of gripping this sheet therebetween, as shown in Figs. 9 and This t'urning moti n of the movable jaw of each gripper is e ected by means of two tappet s 146, 147 projecting forwardly and rearwardly from the inner part of the movable gripper jaw 142. As each gripper passes with 'itsfeed belt inwardly over the f top of the upper supporting wheel 127 the same is open and as it begins its downward movement to the upper portioiof the operative, stretch of this belt these jaws move downwardly'along opposite sides of the adjacent outer edge of the respective web of paper and under normal conditions the movable awof the gripper at this time is'turned in a direction for presenting its high face to the companion st'ationary "jaw and gripping the paper therebetween. The rotation of the movable jaw at this time is effected byits front tappet 148 engaging with a closing trip member l48 which at this time is arrangedin the path of the front tappet 146 and therefore compels. this tappet to be moved upwardly inmrder to clear the trip member 148 and thereby produce a rotary motion of the jaw 142 which operates to close the same and grip the adjacent edge portion of the sheet of paper. A

-This gripper engages with the web of paper at the front end of the sheet or strip per which will extend vertically across the rear end'of the receiver 86 and a sufficient extent above and below the receiver to form a sheet which can be wrapped around the slice of material in the manner previously described. After the gripper has thus engaged with the edge of the web at a distance above thefreceiver86 the same comes to rest and immediately thereafter the web is severed below the gripper which has just taken hold of the web so as to detach a sheet from the advancing end of the web and permit the same to be wrapped around a slice of ma-' terial bv means of the wrapping mechanism.

After the preceding severed sheet has been wrapped around a slice of material and the plunger 87 has been retracted so as td clear the passage 125, the feed belt'is again moved forwardly one step so as to carry the active gripper which is now in engagement with theedge of the web of paper downwardly to the lower part of the operative stretch of the feed belt at which, point another length of paper has been fed so as to extend across the-receiver 86 and project a sufiicient dis material. After the web has been thus fed down another length in the manner described, the gripper is released from the lower or advancing edge of the web and then the feed belt is moved forwardly another. step so that the lowermost gripper which is now open is carried away from the web and moved downwardly and outwardly around the respective lower supporting wheel 128 and then upwardly with the inoperative stretch of the feed belt preparatory to being,"

again moved into its operative position for is constructed as follows tance below and above' the same to .form

another sheet which is to be subsequently wrapped around the next following slicepf again engaging the web and advancing the same another step. 4

This opening of the gripper is effected by the rear tappet 147 thereof engagin'g an opening trip member 149 which is arranged in the path bf the opening tappet 147 (see. Figure 18) so that as the gripper eiiectsthev last part of its downward movement with the operative stretch of the feed belt, this tappet 147 will engage the opening trip member 149 and be turned from its lower position, as shown in Fig. 21 to its upper position as shown in Fig. 20, order to clear the trip member 149. It wilhtherefore be apparent that when the gripper is in open position its closing tappet 146 is' interc'epted by the closing'trip member 148,-while the opening tappet- 147 is in operative position relative to the opening tripmember 149. but when the closing tappet 146 is shifted into its upper position from which it clears the closing trip member 148, then the opening tappet 147 will be moved downwardly into a position in which it will engage the opening trip member 149 during its continued movement, thereby causing the gripper to be automatically closed upon the sheet while the same straddles the edge of the'sheet at the beginning of an operative stroke, and to be opened for releasing the sheet at the end of an operative stroke of the gripper.

- Means are provided whereby the paper,

feed mechanism will be maintained in an inoperative condition and not effect a forward feed of paper to the folding position in case themachine is operated when no pieces or slices ofmaterial are passed through the machine for the wrapping mechanism to operate upon. This condition will occur when the block or slab of material on the feed table has not been moved forwardly far enough to cut a slice therefrom which can be elevated into POSltlOIIiiOI being subsequently pushed bythe plunger 87 against a sheet which closes the ereceiver 8ti. The means which are provided for thus automatically controlling the feeding of the paper depend= ing on the absence or presence ofa slice of material in the proper position to be wrapped the upper part of the front guide rails 140,

for'the paper feed belt 126, as shown in Figsi 3, 6, 7, 8, 18 and 19, so that by rocking each of thecsha-fts, 150 the respective closing trip member or finger may be moved into and out of the path of the closing tappets 146 of the respective -grippers. delivery end ofthe feed table 31 is arranged agdeflector plate 152 which in the absehce of lab or. block of material is adapted to proect do'wnwardly into the path of'this block Above the front or out of this path by the block of material as the frontend of the same is moved fully forward into a position in which its front end V is flush with'the front end of the feed table 31, which movement of the deflector is 'utilized to control the position of the closing trip member 148 accordingly.

This deflector is preferably pivoted at its rear end by means of a pin 153 on a stationary part of the main framearranged im mediately above the pathof the block of material and the same is @dapted to be depressed by gravity aided by aspring 154 which is secured to the adjacent part of the main frame and bears against the upper side of the deflector. Motion is transmitted from this deflector by a shifting rod 155 which is pivotally connected at its lower end with an upwfardly projecting lug 156 on the upper side 0 the deflector while its upper end is connected with a roclqarih '157 on the opposite end of the rock shaft 150. which carries the movable or closing trip member 148. d

When the front end 9f the block of material is not flush-with the front end of the feed table or substantially so, then the deflector 152 will project downwardly into the path of the block of material, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 18, whereby the closing trip member 148 will be moved downwardly and outwardly away from the path of the closing tappet 1 46 ofrthe grippers and thereby, avoid closing this gripper so that the same will "effect its downward working stroke from a position above the receiver 86 to a position below the same without carrying any paper across the inlet of thereceiver. When, however, the-block of material has been advanced on the feed table sufliciently far to bring its front end flush with the front end of the table or substantially so, then the deflector 152 will be shifted by the block of'material into its elevated position as shown by full lines in Fig. '18, whereby the closing trip member 148 will be moved inwardly and upwardly into a position in which it will 'intercept the closing tappet 146. of the gripper and thus the same will be closed for gripping a web of paper so that during the subsequent stroke of the paper feed mechanism a sheet] or strip of the web will be moved downwardly across the inlet of the receiver 86 into a proper position for wrapping the same around the nektfollowing slice of material.

In the absence of this automatic controlling device which would permit a continuous feed of paper regardless of whether the slice of material were presented to the wrapping mechanism the 7 machine would become clogged with paper and necessitates not only an interruption in the working of the machine for clearing the same but also occasioning a loss of time and waste of material.

While the web is momentarily. at restafter the front end of the same has been moved downwardly one step for carrying .the' foremost length across the inlet of the receiver 86 and before the sheet has been released and operated upon by the folding and wrapping mechanism, this foremost length of sheet is severed from the remaining portions of the web immediatelybelow the point where the next length of web is grasped by the next following gripper, The cutting mechanism whereby this is effected is best shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3 and is constructed as follows The numeral '158 represents an upper stationary cutter blade which is arranged horizontally and transversely in rear of the path of the wrapping paper adjacent to the operative stretchof the respective paper feeding belt, and mounted in any suitable manner on an adjacent part of the main frame. Turning in a horizontal plane and cooperat ing with the" front edge of the stationary blade 158 is a movable cutter blade 159 which is pivoted at its outer end on a pivot pin 160 which is supported on the stationary blade 158, this pivoted blade being held yieldingly in contact with the companion stationary,

blade by means of a spring 161 bearing at its lower end against a shoulder 162 on the main frame and at its upper end against the hub of the swinging blade, as best shown in Fig. 3. When the two cutter blades 158, 159are separated a passageway is formed between them through which theweb of paper iscarried by the grippers of the respective paper feeding mechanism and after the web has been fed downwardly a requisite length and has 'come to rest then the movable cutter blade 159 is moved backwardly across the companion stationary blade 158 thereby producing a shearing cut iipon the web of paper between the same whichoperates to sever the advancing length of the web which is to be used for wrapping a slice of material from the remaining body portion of the web. Motion for sswinging; this movable cutter blade 159 backwardly and forwardly for cutting the sheet of paper" and then again clearing the path of the web is derived from the main driving shaft 42 by a train of gearing which is preferably is constructed as follows a v f v The numeral 163 represents a horizontal rock shaft which is journaled transversely in suitable bearings on the main frame. On its central part this s'haftis provided with a downwardly projecting rock arm 164 which engages with a cam 165 secured to the up-.

right shaft 129, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At opposite ends this rock shaft 163 isiprovided with upwardly projecting rock arms 166, each of which is connected at its upper end by means of link 167 with an inwardly projecting rock arm 168 on the hub of one of the lower cutter blades 159, as shown in F i g s, 1, 2 and 3. As the cam 165 rotates in-' termittently- .due to the action of the mutilated gears 130, 131, this-motion transmitting mechanism operates'the paper cutting mechanism once during each cycle of operations for severing the sheet of paperfrom the web which is to be used for wrapping a slice of material.

If no paper is fed forward to the wrapping position due to the block of materialnot eing advanced to the pro'pe r position on the feed table then the paper cutter mechanism performs an idle operation which is without effect. a Inasmuch as the upper end of the sheet of 5 material which has been severed from the web is liable to fall down and double up into a more or l ess irregular condition which would interfererwith the proper wrapping of the same around a slice of materlal, means are 27: provided for retaining the upper part of the sheet of paper in its proper position relatlve to the folding mechanism until it is engaged by the front side of the slice of material which is to bewrapped and under the control of the folding mechanism. I Preferred means forthis purpose comprise a detent device consisting of a plurality of detent fingers 169 of spring inetalfthe lower ends of which are adapted to move forwardly no and bacfiwardly toward the rear'side of the upper folding-blade 101 for the purpose of clamping the upper part of the sheet of paper against the same or releasing it, a horizontal rock shaft 17 O carrying the upper ends of the detent fingers 169 and journaled in suitable bearings 171 on the main frame above the plunger 87, a retracting arm 172 pro ect? ing downwardly from the rock shaft 170 and adapted to engage the rear side of the plung- 40 er 87, and a spring 17 3 interposed between v ,the upper rear side of the retracting arm 172 and the adj acent part of the main frame gnd p operating to movethe arm 172, rock shaft 17 05 and fingers 169 forwardly toward the upper folding blade 101. When the plunger 87 1s its retracted position the same moves the retracting armr17 2 backwardly together with the detent fingers 169 so that a clear path 1s formed between these detent fingers and the :m up er folding blade 101 through which-the we of paper and the gi'i pers adapted to engage the same can pass reely.

During the first part of the forward move- 1nent of the plunger 87 which is timed to oc- 5:, our just before the hiovable blade 159 coop-' erates with the stationary blade 158-for sev- .ering the foremost sheet from the'body of the web, the plunger 87 permitsthe retracting arm 17 2 to move forwardly from the posiuntion shown, by full lines in' Fig. 17, to a posi: tion shown by dotted lines in the same figure,

whereby the" gripping fingers169 are permitted to movecforwardly to a position shown by full lines in Fig? 17 to a position shown by c.) dotted lines the same figure inwhich last gers of the feeding mechanism. I

mentioned position the gripping fingers en'-, gage with the rear side" of the upper part of the web of paper and clamp the same against the rear side of the'upper folding blade 101. Immediately thereafter the operation of seyering the sheet from the .web by the action of the blades 158, 159 is effected but the sheet will be prevented from dropping and assuming a more or less crumpled position at this L time, inasmuch as it is securely clamped ad jacent 0 its upper end against the upper folding blade 1'01. The upper part of the sheet is however easily withdrawn" from between the detent fingers .169 and the upper folding blade 101 as the centralipartof the sheet is engaged by the front side of the slice of material which latter is pushed forwardly during the cdntinued forward mpvementof I the plunger 87 after the latter has permitted the detent fingers 169 .to engage the upper folding blade. .During the downward move-' ment of the upper folding bla'de 101 for effecting the preliminary crease in the upper flap of the sheet, as shownwin' Fig. 14, the upper blade simply slides in contact with the detent fingers 169 and also rises into its elevated position for the purpose of clearing the rear or inietend of the receiver 86 without any objectionable effect. I i T During the backward or return movement of the plunger 87 the same again engages the lower end of the retracting arm 172 andmoves the detent fingers 169 rearwardly out of the path of the web of paper and the finno It will be apparent fromthe foregoing description that by the use of this machine a large quantity of material which is usually :manufactured in blocks or slabs such as ice cream can be cut up and wrapped economically and expeditiouslv with no waste of mate rials, thereby enabling goods of this character to be marketed at comparatively low cost and also in the most sanitary-manner; J

WhatI claim as new and desire to secure i by a patent of the United States is: a

1. In a machine of the character described, feed mechanism comprising an endless car.- rier having an operative stretch arranged adjacent to a web of material to be" fed, a

plurality of grippers mounted on said car-.

rier, and having relatively stationary and I movable jaws which are adaptedto receive an edge of the web between them, said sta tiqnary jaw being, fixed on the carrier and said movable jaw consisting of arotatablef rod journaledon the carrier and provided with high and lowperipheral faces and to 'be moved alternately opposite the companion stationary. jaw, closing and opening tappets projecting laterally in opposite directions from said vmovable jaw rod, and elosing and opening trip members arranged in the path of said'closing and opening tappets and to q 1 v V successively turn said gripper rod for closing and opening the respective gripper.

2. A machine of the character described,

' comprising feed mechanism for pulling the end portion of a web of wrapping material wound in a roll into' position for folding around a section of material to be wrapped, said feed mechanismrcomprising an endless carrier having an operative stretch arranged adjacent to said web, a plurality of grippers mounted on said carrier, opening means for opening the gripperdafter the same has completed a forward stroke, and closing means which are adapted to close the gripper before each forward stroke and which are controlled bymthe presence or absence of the material to be wrapped in a predetermined position.

( 3. A machine of the character described, comprising feed mechanism for pulling the end portionof a web of wrapping material wound in a roll into position for foldin around a section of material to be wrappe said feed mechanism, comprising an endless carrier having an operative stretch arranged adjacent to said web, a plurality of grippers mounted on said carrier; and having relatively stationary and movable jaws which are adapted to receive an edge of the web between them, said stationary jaws being fixed on the carrier and. said movable jaw consisting of a rotatable rod' journaled on the'carrier and provided with high and low peri'pheral faces and to be moved alternately opposite the companion stationary jaw, closing and opening tappets projecting laterally in opposite directions from said movable jaw rod, closing and opening trip members arranged in the path of said closing and opening tappets and to successively turn said gripper rod for closing and opening the respective gripper, and meansfor moving said closing trip member into and out of its oper ative position comprising a rock shaft on which said closing trlp member is mounted,

a rock arm on said shaft, a detector plate which moves into the pathrof the material --;to be wrapped and is moved out of said path when the material reaches a predetermlned positi0n,'and a'rod connecting said detector 7 plate and said rock arm.

'4. A machine of the character described,

* comprising feedmechanism forpulling the end section of-a web of wrapping material wound in a roll into position for folding around a section of material to be wrapped, cooperating cutter mechanism for severing said web into sections, an endless cfarrier having an. operative stretch arranged adjacent to said web, a plurality of grippers mounted on said carrier, opening means for opening each gripper after the same has completed a forward stroke, and closing means responsive only to the presence at a predetermined position of material to be wrapped, to close the 5. A machine of the character described,

comprising means for holding a Web of wrapping material woundin a roll with its free end extending downward, sets of cooperating feeding jaws for grasping said depending end at a .point above a wrapping position and carrying the same down below said position, cutter mechanism for severing successively wrapper sheets from the end of said web, opening means for opening each set of feeding jaws when it arrives below said wrapping position, closing means for closing each set of feeding jaws when it is about to enter upon its downward feeding stroke, and means for controlling said closing means in accordance with the presence or absence in a predetermined position of the material to be wrapped.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising 'feed mechanism for pulling the end section of a web of wrapping material wound in a roll into position for folding around a section of material to be wrapped, cooperating cutter mechanism for severing said web into sections, an endless carrier having an operative stretch arranged adjacent to said web, a plurality of grippers mounted on said carrier, opening means for opening each gripper after the same has completed a forward stroke, closing means for closing each gripper before each forward stroke, a detector plate movable into and out of the path of oncoming material, and connections be tween said detector plate and closing means whereby the presence of material at the detector plate causes the closing of the gripper at the beginning of its advancing stroke and the absence of said material at said plate allows that gripper to 'rernain open.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising means for holding a web of wrapping material wound in a roll with its free end ezitending downward, sets of cooperating feeding jaws for grasping said depending end at a point above a wrapping position andcarrying the same down below said position, cutter mechanism for severing successively wrapper sheets from the endof said web, opening means for opening each set of feeding jaws when it arrives below said wrapping position, closing means for closing ;each set of feeding jaws when it is about to for opening each as pers mounted on said' carrier, openlng means 8 r opening"each gripper after it has" completed a forward stroke, and closing means responsive to the presenceata particular point of material to be wrapped, to close the gripper about to enter upon its forward stroke.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising an endless carrier operative in a vertical plane to move wrapper sheets downward to a folding position for folding around a section of material to be wrapped, saidv carrier having an operative stretch arranged adjacent to one edge of the wrapper sheet vertically disposed, a plurality of grippers mounted on said carrier, opening means below said folding position for insuring open grippers at the lower end of their stroke, closing means abo e-said foldingposition for closin grippers just before enteringupon their downward stroke,and means for, controlling said closing means only in case material to'be wrapped is'present. at a prede termined position. I

10. A fnachineof the character'described, comprising an endless carrier for positionmg wrapper sheets at a folding position for 1 folding around a section of material to be wrapped, saidcarrier havingan operative stretch arranged adjacent to the edge of the web ofthe wrapper sheet, a plurality of grippers mounted on said carrier opening means fter ithas com- .PF pleted a forward stroke, closing means for closing said grippers before each forward stroke, a detector plate movable into and out of the path of oncoming material, and con- 7 nections betweensaid detector plate and clos- "at the detector plate ve ically low said folding? position asecticn of 'material the presence of material bauses the closing of the gripper at the beginning of its stroke and the absence of said material at said plate allows that grip .er to remain open. 11. A inach ineio'f the character described, comprising anen'dless carrier operative in a vertical plane to move wrapper sheets down= ward to a folding'positiqn for folding around I to be wrapped, said carrier having an operative. stretch arranged ad acent "to one'e ge of the wrapper sheet disposed, a plurality of grippers m unted on said cafi'ier, o'ipening means bemg means whereby grippers at the lower end of their stroke, closscribed, feed mechanism comprising an ends less chain carrier traveling in a single plane and having an operative stretch arranged adjacent a web of material to be fed in said 7 plane, a plurality of grippers mounted-on said carrier. and extending outward therefrom approximatelyin said plane and each gripper having relatively stationary and movable jaws. which are adapted to receive able jaw about its axis to move said cam face into open position relative to said stationary jaw after the completion of eachfeeding advance of the web. I

In witness whereof l hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of April, 'A. D. 1929.

EDWARD'G. HEGG.

advancing r insuring open mg means above said folding position for closinggrippers just before entering upon their downward stroke, a detector plate movable into and out of the path.of oncoming between said de; ansfor causing the latter to close when material actuates said detector plate and'toremaingpen-when itdoes not. f 1 12.-. In a machine of the character de- 

